Here’s Why You Should Add Them to Your Diet

Have you ever heard the word “antioxidant?” I am sure you have seen that in any health magazine or your doctor’s office. But do you know what antioxidants are? Why are they important?

Well, it’s the subject of today’s article. We will discuss the importance of these essential nutrients in this article. Let’s start.

What are antioxidants?

Antioxidants are nutrients that help you slow cell damage. Even these could also prevent cell damage. They work against the cell damage caused by the free radicles.

Now you might be wondering what free radicles are? Well, these are unstable molecules produced by the body under environmental stress. Mostly, cigarette smoke, UV exposure, and pollution are some factors that induce the production of free radicles. 

Basically, antioxidants destroy these free radicals while preventing your body from cell damage. That’s why some nutritionists also call them “free radical scavengers.” 

When it comes to examples of antioxidants, flavonoids, beta-carotene, selenium, lutein, lycopene, and Vitamins A, C and E are all antioxidants.  

Why are antioxidants essential for your health?

As we have discussed above, antioxidants destroy free radicals. In case there are antioxidants, it means free radicles will start accumulating in your body. These free radicles are harmful to your body and cause oxidative stress.

Ultimately, your immune system will get weak, and you will be an easy target for many diseases. So, it’s very important to have antioxidants in your routine diet.  

Here are some benefits of having antioxidants in your diet. Antioxidants

• Either stop or slow down the damage caused by the free radicals
• Boost immunity
• Protect the body from several chronic diseases, such as cancer, stroke, and other heart diseases. 

• Provide the strength to fight mood swings and neurological disorders
• Help improve eyesight and overall eye health
• Offer vibrant and glowing skin

What are the sources of antioxidants?

Since you know how important antioxidants for your health are, you might consider adding them to your diet. Therefore, you must know the sources of antioxidants.

Well, you can get the antioxidants from both natural and artificial sources. The antioxidants produced inside our bodies are known as endogenous antioxidants. On the other, antioxidants that we take from outside the body through our diet are exogenous antioxidants.

Generally, food obtained from plants has the highest content of antioxidants.

Here’re some sources of the antioxidants:

• Walnuts
• Strawberries
• Dar chocolate
• Oranges
• Spinach
• Berries
• Broccoli
• Potato
• Carrots and
• Many more

Final thoughts…!!!

Antioxidants are good for health. But it does not mean you can uncontrollably take them. A high dose of antioxidants in the body is risky. For instance, a high level of beta-carotene means a higher risk of lung cancer among smokers.  

To sum up, you can’t ignore the antioxidants in your diet. But you should take them in moderate quantity.